New York Times Eliminating Comic Bestseller Lists

Rumors are circulating that, as of February 5, the New York Times will no longer be publishing their graphic novel and manga bestseller lists.

Graphic novels can no longer be @nytimes bestsellers as of February 5th. No explanation for change, I think we deserve one. Please RT!

— Charlie Olsen (@ComicsisPeople) January 25, 2017

Some people get the lists in advance, and there are apparently many lists gone with a brief note that the section has been “revised”.

@RaySonne @nytimes Didn't hear it, saw it. Got the 2/5 NYT BSL with the GN & Manga lists removed and a note that they 'revised' BSL

— Charlie Olsen (@ComicsisPeople) January 25, 2017

Also gone are the mass market paperback, ebook, and paperback young adult lists.

Mass market list gone entirely, possibly merged with trade PBs?

— Michael Bourret (@MichaelBourret) January 25, 2017

There are no more ebook or mm bestseller lists. This affects genre fiction disproportionately. Wish I were more shocked, @nytimesbooks.

— Ginger Clark (@Ginger_Clark) January 25, 2017

@ChuckWendig Also PB lists for YA gone.

— Gwenda Bond (@Gwenda) January 25, 2017

This means most genre works are no longer represented in the “paper of record”.

Seeking hard to find a silver lining in this, I guess this means no one can ever dethrone Raina Telegemeier as the best-sellingest-comic-artist ever. It’s true that the lists were rather predictable, and rumor has it that there’s a separate manga list so that American publishers wouldn’t get shut out, but backing away from recognizing comic work as a unique format is disappointing.

Update: Alex Lu at the Beat has some confirmation. ICv2 got the confirming quote that, from the NY Times perspective,

“The discontinued lists did not reach or resonate with many readers.”